Machine for grinding axles or the like



March 21, 1933. v P. SCHMIDT ET AL MACHINE FOR GRINDING AXLES OR THE LIKE 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l www Filed June INVENTORS= af We fr rg; emmazz.

TORNEYS.

Matth 21, 1933. v P SCHMIDT Er AL 1,902,188

` MACHINE FORAGRINDING AXLES OR THE LIKE Filed June 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIC?. I

5 INVENToRs kPatented Mar. Z1, 1933 f UNITEDSTATES PATENT oFF/ICE@ y VICTOR P. SCHMIDT AN D HARRY A. BRENAMN, OF .ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA MACHINE Fon. GRINDING AXLEs on THE LIKE l Application led .Tune 9, 1931. Serial No. 543,046.

This invention relates to.v machines for grinding axles or the like and more particularly to portable grinding machines adapted to be ailixed to 'and accurately centered on a cylindrical object to be V ground, the invention being especiallyapplicable to the grinding of journals or quills of locomotive axles. Y Heretofore it has been customary for the truing 'of locomotive or car axlejournals to carry the axles to a lathe and to `perform the work on the lathe, which, of course, involves considerable labor. t

The primary object of this invention is to provide a comparatively simple and compact grinding machine which may be handily carried from place to place and which is adapted to be readilyV mounted foroperation'on the work to be ground, the machine being characterized by the use of a grindingtool which rotates about its own axis while revolving about the axis of the work. Y Y f Another object of the invention is to provide in a grinding machine of this character means for automatically advancing the tool operating mechanism4 longitudinally of the work as Well'as means for adjusting the vertical relation between the grinding tool and thevwork. Other objects andzadvantages characteris- 0 tic of our invention will become more fully apparent from the description hereinafter of one embodiment or example -of the invention,'the description having reference to the Fig. I represents a side elevation of a grinding machine of our invention applied to a locomotive axle, certainl parts being broken away for clear-ness in illustration.

Fig. II represents an end elevation of the same, as indicated by the lines II--II of Fig. I.

Fig. III represents an enlarged cross section of a portion ofthe collector ring of the grinding machine. j

Fig. IV represents a perspective view `of the annular bearing'rings upon which the grinding machine is, centered. f

Fig. V represents a portion of the'revolv- 5G able carrier of the grinding machine showing accompanying drawings, whereof:

3 f the'pat thereof to which vthe sliding block of Fig. VI is'mounted; and,

Fig. VI vrepresents a perspective view of fragments of the sliding block upon'which parts of the grinding machine are mounted. In the drawings a portion of a locomotivev axle is representedat 1,*and the particular Y area comprising the journal to be ground. is

represented at 2. Adjacent to this portion there is aiixed rigidly to the axle around the 60,2,

body thereof an annular bearingin theform of split rings 3. As shown most clearly ink Fig. IV, the rings 3 are made up of semi-` circular segments assembled together by means of dovetailed joints 4. Each ring 65" 3 is spacedfrom its companion ring by 'means of connecting bars having flanged ends 6 which are bolted to plates 7 f on the opposite sides ofthe ring segments by means of stud bolts 8. After the bearing rings 3 have been assembled together around the axle they are fixed on the axle by-means of machine screws 9, which lit within correspondingly threaded openings disposed radially r, about therings To center the bearing rings Y f5 on lthe axle, we preferably employ a centering gauge such'as theone described in our co-pending application'for-U.l S. Letters Patj ent, SerialNo. 543,047, filed June 9, 1931.

Although in the drawings, the portion Aof the so'. y

axley to which the bearing rings are affixed is cylindrical, the rings may obviously be applied to shaft portions ofv a variety of crosssectional shapes, as wellas to tapering or irregular surfaces, and .centered thereon. VOn `the annular bearing rings 3 there is? mounted a revolvable carrier comprehensive-y ly designated at 10. The carrier 10 comprises two semi-circular sections 11 and 12 having 90 opposed flanges 13 and secured'together by bolts 14. On one of the carrier sections 11 there is'a projecting member 15, most clearlyfshown in FigV, which serves as a Vsupport for the grinding tool operating ,mechanism; whereas vthe other carriersection is provided with counterweights 16 forlbalancing the weight of the tool operating mechanism.V The carrier 10 has inwardly projecting'flangesl between which annular bush- 100 ings 18 are accommodated. The bushings 18 are in turn grooved to fit over the stationary rings 3. Accordingly, the carrier is concentric with and free to revolve about the annular bearing rings 3 which are fixed on the axle 1. Projecting laterally from one end of the carrier are a number of studs 19 which affords a meansol'J attaching a. split pulley -20 to the carrier. The studs 19 pass through holes in the inner ends of spokes 21 and are secured thereto by nuts 22.

In the present example of the invention, a pulley 2() serves as the driving element for the revolvable carrier 10, the pulleyV being connected by a belt with some convenient externa-l source of power. However,' it will be obvious that in lieu of a pulley and belt, many otherV forms of apparatus may be employed for transmitting rotary motlon to the carrier 10. i

The projecting support 15 on the carrier 10 is formed at its top surface with a central groove 23 and longitudinally extending keys 24. Upon this support a complementary shaped block 25, shown in perspective in Fig. VI, is slidably mounted, the blockbeing restrained against vertical movement by means ofl the engagement of the keys 24 of the support 15 in the angular slots 26 of the .block 25. Within a central threaded opening in the sliding block 25 a screw 27 is inserted. lGn the end of this screw there is a shoulder 28 `which is engaged within a notch in a platel 29. The plate 29 is in turn screwed to a bracket 30 is secured to the carrier 10 by means of arpair of studs 31. On account of the engagement of the shoulder 28 of the screw 27 with the pla-te29, which is fixed in relation to the carrier, the screw 27 cannot move in the direction of its length. Ac-v cordingly, when the screw127 is turned, the sliding block 25 is caused to be moved along ythesupporting member 15 longitudinally of the work to ground. Y

To turn the screw 27, and hence-to advance the sliding block 25 with respect to the sup# porting member 15, a star wheel 32 is provided at the end of the screw. The star wheel 32 is actuated by a pin 33 which is fixed with relation to the axle 1, the pin 33 being carried on an arm 34 projecting voutwardly from a split clamping ring 35. As shown in Figs. I and II,`the sections of the clamping ring 35 are secured together at theiriianged ends by bolts 36. The arm 34, which may be weld' ed to the clamping ring 35, is provided with a threaded hole 37 and at opposite sides of the threaded vhole 37 and equally -spaced therefrom there are two larger openings 38 and 39. Within the threaded hole 37 a screw 40 is inserted with a spring 41 accommodated between the head ofthe screwV and a disk 42. To the disk 42 the pin 33, previously referred to, is attached. There is also a cap 43 onthe disk 42, the cap housing the spring 41 and affording also a convenient part to be gripped with fingers, when changing the position of the pin 33 from the opening 38 to the opening 39 or vice versa.

When the pin 33 is in the position shown, that is, within the opening 38 in the arm 34, after each revolution of the carrier 10, the pin 33 will strike a tooth of the star Wheel 32 above the center thereof and causethestar wheel 32 to turn in a counter-clockwise directionas viewed in F ig. 1I (assuming that the ,carrier isprevolving in a clockwise direction) .c This will effect a turning of the screw to advance the grinding tool operating mechanism in one directionlongitudinally of the work. The position of the pin 33 ma-y be j (assuming that the carrier isrevolving in a clockwise direction). This will effect aturning of the screw 27 to advance the grinding tool operating mechanism in the opposite direction. .Accordingly the position of the pin 33 controls the direction of longitudinal movementY of the grinding toolV operating mechanism. I

On the sliding block 25 a motor carrying bracketf44 is mounted by means of studs 45 and nuts 46.` Anv electric motor 47 ofy a conventional typeV is shown mounted on the bracket 44, the motor being movable in a vertical direction on the bracket 44 by means off ahand wheel 4,8. Attached tothe motor shaft 49 lis a grinding wheel 50 which is shown in engagement with thefjournal By turning the hand wheel 48 in one direction `or another, the vertical position'of'- the grinding wheel may be-adjusted in an ob vious manner to regulate the engagement of theV grinding wheel on the journal.

Associated'with the pulley 20 there is a split collector ring 5l, shown in Fig. III, which has a flange 62 secured to the spokes 21. The diameter ,of the collector ring 51 is slightly smaller than that of the pulley, and the two halves of the collector ring t within thecorrespondinof halves of the pulley.V 20. On the inside of the collector ring 51 there are two copper Contact rings 52 which are in parallel spaced relation and are separated from the collector ring by suitable insulation 53. Lead wires 54 connect the copper coutact rings 52 with the motor Y. 47 there beinga sufficient length of such Wire to allow for the necessary travel of the motor in a horizontal direction. Current from a suitable source is transmitted through conductors 55 to a stationary7 collector comprising contact shoes 56, shown in Fig. III. The shoes 56 are secured to a bracket 57 on the clamping ring 35 which in turn is aiiixed to the axle l. At that end of the bracket'? which pro jects in close proximity to the collector ring l there are tWo holes fitted With insulating bushings 58. Within these holes the cylindrical portions of the contact shoes 56 are inserted, and the conductors 55 are secured to the ends thereof by nuts 59 and insulating Washers 60. Springs 61 serve to press'the contact shoes into engagement with the copperrings 52 to maintain electrical contact between these parts While the carrier revolves. Accordingly, current is transmitted through the stationary collector which forms the terminus of the conductors 55 to the revolving copper rings 52, and from thence is transmitted through the lead Wires 54 to f the motor 47.

sembled in a manner obvious from the abovev description. First, the bearing rings, 3 are clamped at a convenient location on the axle and are accurately centered thereon. The carrier sections are then bolted together about the annular ring 3. With the carrier 10, the sections of the pulley and collector ring 5l are joined together. Subsequently the clamping ring and the various parts used for the support of the motor 47 and its electrical connections are assembled in their proper positions.

Assuming that the parts of the grinding machine occupy the position shown in Fig.

f I, the operation of the apparatus is as fole lows. The pulley 2O is belt-connected to a suitable source of power Which causes the carrier 10 to revolve about the axis of the journal 2. The motor 47, having been properly adjusted to control the position of the grinding Wheel 50, With relation to the journal 2', is operated to rotate the grinding Wheel about the axis of the motor shaft 49. As

tracted from the opening 38 and is turned for insertion Within the opening 39 of the arm 34 of the clamping ring 35. This e'ects It Will be apparent kthat the machine here- ,.570 n in described is of a compact nature and that it can be readily Vcarried from place to place.

Furthermore, the practice of thel present in'- vention eliminates the necessity of transportf ing locomotive axles to a lathe With obvious saving in the time and laborl expended in truing the surface ofv a journal. 1

While 'We have described'one example, ofV a grinding machine of ourl invention, itwill beV apparent that various changes may. be made in the form thereof Without departing from thespirit of our invention as'defined in the claims annexed hereto. Itr Will belfur# ther apparent that thel machin-e may be'ap plied to many forms of shafts other than locomotive or car axles. d f l f Having thus described our invention, We claimt- Y l.k A machine for grinding axles or the like comprising an annular bearing adapted to. be affixed rrigidly to the Work to be Vground around the body thereof, said bearing being made up of separable segments, a carrier internally grooved to fit snugly on saidv annular bearing and adapted to be revolved thereon, a grinding tool adapted to engage the circumference of the Work, and means for rotating said grinding tool about its axis. Y Y 2. A ma-chne for grinding axles or the like comprising an annular bearing adapted to be aiiixed rigidly to the Work to be ground y around the body thereof, said bearing being in the form of split rings joined by spacing members, a carrier internally grooved tofit i snugly on said rings and adapted Vto be re- Q05 volved thereon, a grinding tool adapted to en vgage the circumference of the- Worl, and

means for rotating said grindingvtool about its axis. y

3. A machine for grinding axles or the like comprising an annular bearing adapted to be aifixed rigidly to Vthe .Work to be ground around the body thereof, a kcarrier revolvable on said bearing, a motor carrying bracket mounted on said carrier With capacity for movement longitudinally of the carrier and Work, a motor mounted on said bracket, a grinding tool adapted to engage the circumference of the Work and to be rotated by said motor, and means v vhereby each revolution of saidA carrier advances said motor carrying bracket a predetermined distance along the Work. f

4. A machine for grinding axles or the like comprising an annular bearing adapted to be allixed rigidly to the Work to be ground around the body thereof, a carrier revolvable on said bearing, a block slidably fmounted on said carrier with capacity for movement longitudinally of the Work, a motor mounted on said sliding block,l a grinding tool adapted to engage the circumference of the Work, and to be rotated by said motor, a screw for advancing said sliding` block on said carrier, said screw having a star Wheel thereon, and means adapted to be mounted `in fixed relation to the Work and to engage said star Wheel at each revolution of the carrier to turn the screw aforesaid. l

5. A machine vfor grinding axles or the like comprising an annular bearingv adapted to be affixed rigidly to the Work to be ground around the body thereof, a carrier revolvable on said hearing, al grinding tool adapted toengage the circumference of the Work, and means for rotating said grindingwvheel about its. axis, said means being mounted Yon said carrier and having capacity for movement longitudinally of the carrier and Work as Well asfor adjustment in vertical relation to the carrier and Work. y

`6'. A machine for grinding axles or the like comprising an annular bearing adapted to4V klee affixed rigidly to the Work to be ground around the body thereof, a carrier revolvable on said bearing, a motor carrying bracket slidably mounted on-said carrier with capacity for movement longitudinally of the Workta motor mounted on said bracketwith capacity for vertical adjustment thereon,` and a grindlng tool adapted to engage the circumferenceL of the Work and to be rotated by said motor.

In testimony whereof, We have 4hereunto signed our names at Altoona7 VPennsylvania,

this Q'thday of May, 1931.

' VICTOR P. SCHMIDT@ HARRY Al' BRENAltL/XN. 

